What is Building Regulations Part 'E'?

Noise control in buildings for residential use in England and Wales is regulated using Approved Document E. This Building Regulation now applies to any kind of building used as a dwelling, including houses and apartments; and rooms for residential purposes, such as students and nurses accommodation, nursing homes and hotels. It also applies to dwellings that have been created as a result of a conversion or material change of use.

The aim of the regulation is to protect residents from the noise of activities in other rooms or adjoining properties. This has been highlighted as a major cause of tension between residents. The acoustic requirements are shown below in tables 1.1a & 1.1b:-

Table 1.1a: Dwelling-houses and flats - performance standards for separating floors, stairs and walls that have a separating function.

	Airborne sound insulation DnT,w + Ctr dB (Minimum Values)	Impact sound insulation L'nTw dB (Maximum Values)
Purpose built dwelling-houses or flats
Floors and Stairs	45	62
Walls	45
Dwelling-houses or flats formed by material change of use
Floors and stairs	43	64
Walls	43

Table 1.1b: Rooms for residential purposes - performance standards for separating floors, stairs and walls that have a separating function.

 

	Airborne sound insulation DnT,w + Ctr dB (Minimum Values)	Impact sound insulation LnTw dB (Maximum Values)
Purpose built rooms for residential purposes
Floors and Stairs	45	62
Walls	43
Rooms for residential purposes formed by material change of use
Floors and stairs	43	64
Walls	43

In addition to these targets, separating structure within a dwelling must also meet or exceed the following targets as set out in the table 1.1c it is anticipated that these standards should improve the level of privacy within a dwelling.

Table 1.1 c: laboratory values for new internal floors within: dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes, whether purpose built or formed by material change of use.

	Airborne sound insulation Rw dB (Minimum Values)
Floors	40
Walls	40

Specifiers Please Click here for our Approved Document E Specification generator

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